Cane harvester



J. A. PAINE CANE HARVESTER Filed June 1.1, 1919 6 Sheets-Sheet vl In ven'o' Feb. 9 1.926.

J. A. PAINE CANE HARVESTER V6 VSheets-Simeri. 2

Filed June l? j?? vena-2* @70h77. Q/.Paz 22e Feb. 9,1926. 1,572,410

J. A. PAINE CANE HARVESTER Filed June 11, 1919 `Dl 6 sheets-Sheet s Feb. 9 1926. l 1,572,410

J. A. PAINE cANE HARVESTER -Filed June 11. -1919 6 Sheets-Sheet 4l M um a um, M@ 1N-, .1 11@ im .o P -I o v l I l l .I/

| I l l l I l l l Joh?? 0.1170, @y

ufl||||||| 111-11111 Feb. 9 1926.

' J. A, PAINE CANE HARVESTER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 UHU-l In www Jahn @Paine- Feb. 9 1926. 1,572,410

- J. A. PAINE CANE HARVESTER Filed June 11, 1 919 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Feb. 9, 1.9.26.

ui'ran sra'rs JOHN A. PAINE, 0F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

CANE HARVESTER.

Application filed lune 11, 1919.

To all whom 'it 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, Jer-IN A. PAINE, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county ot Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain Improvements in a Cane Harvester, or" which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification7 like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several iigurea.

This invention relates to automatic harvesting machinery of the type used for harvesting sugar cane, corn1 and the like, and it is concerned particularly with the harvesting ot sugar cane.

It is the universal practice today`r as far as I have heen able to learn, to perform the work et harvesting sugar cane on a commercial scale by hand. The harvesting operation comprises the cutting of the growing cane at a point substantially at the surface of the ground, stripping the leaves from the canes or stalks so cut, and cutting oli the tops at. anydesired point.

'lhe present invention aims to devise a thoroughly practical machine which will perl'orm these operations automatically. lmportant features of the invention rcide particularly in thegeneral organization ot' the machine, in a novel means for gripping the growing cane while it is cut at the surface ci the ground, in an improved cutting mechanism and in novel means for positioning the cane for the operation cit cutting oil'l the tops of the stalks.

The nature of the invention will he readily understood from the following desc iption when read in connection with the accompanying drawings and the novel featurel willhe particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings,

Figure l is a side elevation ot a machine embodying the invention in the form at present preferred;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of kthe machine shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 2a is an angular view, partly in crois section, showing one wall of the hopper into which the cane drops;

Serial No. 303,328.

2b is a side elevation showing details of the driving mechanism for the cane grippers Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine shown in Figs. lk and 2;

'Fig 4 is plan viewy of the parts that operate on the stalks ofcane after they have been delivered to the conveyor ofthe machine, and the supporting and driving mechanism for said parts;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4., certain of the parts, however1 being broken away;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on the line GwG, Fig. 4;

7 is a crois sectional view on the line 7 7, ll;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of certain parts of the supporting and driving mechanism for the cutter shaft; I

9 is a cross sectional View on the line 9--9, Fig. 8; Y Y

F ig. l0 is a vertical cross sectional view on the line 1.0-10, Fig. 8;

lig. ll is a vertical longitudinal cross sectional view through the joint that supports the controlling device i'or the cutter;

Fig. l2 is a oros sectional view on the line 12%12, Fig. ll;

Fig. l?) is a cross sectional view showing an adjuttment for the plate that'engages the tops of the stalks after they have been delivered to the conveyor;

Fig. l-/l is a diagramn'iatic view illirtrating the manner in which the stalks are gripped while they are being cut;

Fig. lo is a plan view of one of the grippers .shown in Fig. lll: and

Fig. 1G is a perspective view showing certain of the grippers and the chain that car ies them.

Preliminary to a detailed description ot' the machine shown in the drawings, it Inav' be stated that sugar cane usually if; planted in hills several feet apart in each direction, or` in rows spaced apart by several it'eet, usually from tive to seven feet. rl`he machine shown is designed to straddle one oit these i'cws or hills and comprizies means for gripping the growing canes at a point several ',eet ahovethe Oround a cutter for cuttino' D 5 aoY the cane so gripped substantially at the surface of the ground, and a conveyor to which the stalks are delivered and which carries them to mechanisms that operate automatically to strip the leaves from the stalks and to cut oft the tops of the stalks lat the desired point. The detailed description of the several mechanisms of the inachine will be taken up in substantially the order in which they have jnstbeen nientioned.

The mechanisms that operate on the cane are all mounted on a tractor which inay be of any suitable type and which is driven by an engine that not only turni-shes ythe motive power for the vehicle, but also the power for driving the diferent mechanisms of the machine. For clearness of illustration the details of construction of the .tractor and the illustration of .the engine have been omitted. Y

rEhe mechanism that grips the canes preparatory to cutting them comprises two chains designated at and 11, respectively, the chain 1() running over sprocket wheels 12, 13, 14: and 15, andthe chain 11 over similar wheels 16, 17 and18. The sprockets 12 and 1G are driven, the other sprockets simply being idlers or guiding sprockets, and the two sprockets 12 and 1G are mounted, respectively, on the upper ends of sho-rt sna its 2O and 21 which .are `driven through gear connections with vertical shafts 2Q and 23, respectively, (see Figs. 2 and 2b), these two shafts being driven through bevel gear connections with a horizontal shaftll having a sprocket wheel 25, Fig. l, fast-thereon at one end. This sprocket wheel is driven by a chain 26 ruiming over another sprocket wheel 9.7 on a counter shaft that is driven by a cli-ain 29 from the main shaft 30.V A suitable clutch, not shown, is interposedbetween the main shaft 30 and the engine so that the power can be thrown on or cti the shaft Si), as desired.

As clearly shown in the drawings, the chains 10 and 11 are mounted'tc travel in an inclined plane and they have vtwo adjacent :parallel runs between the sprockets i2, 15, 1b and 18, Fig. 3. Each chain carries a. series of cane grippers, .the grippers on the chain 10 being designated at A and those on the chain 11 at B. Each of these grippers is provided on one sidek with a notched edge c, Fig. 16, and on its opposite side'with a pair of notched edges d and c, respectively. The grippers are so spaced apart on the chains that when they arrive at the parallel portions ofV their runs they alternate orv mesh with each other, as clearly shown in.

Figs. 2 and irl. In* this position they will iirnily grasp one or more .stalks of cane, the stalks being; held in the manner shown in Fig. ld. In this connection it should be noted that each stalk is engaged on one side by the edge o of one of the grippers and on its opposite side by the notched edges d and e of the next gripper, in the rear of that lirst mentioned. These edges el and e are located one above and the other below the level Yof the edge c and, consequently, they makea three ypoint 'contact with each stalk thus hold'it securely in a position nearly upright but preferably somewhat inclined rearwardly, that is, toward the rear of the machine.

The machine moves forward in the direction indicatedby the arrow D in Fig. 8, the row orvhill of cane on which the machine is operating being` located substantially in line with the arrow. Thecanes, however, spread out above the ground so that the grippers A.. and Binay `engage the stalks at any points .along the front reach of their travel, and they are located atsuch a height from the ground that they lwill ycome in contact with 'the stalks at a. considerable distance above the ground, say, for instance, five feet. By `engaging the stal-ks at this height the stalks are enabled to bend laterally several feet without uprooting them, which .obviously would be undesirable. rlhe stalks so caught `by Lthe grippers are moved inwardly by the travel of .thegrippers toward each other along their .forward paths of travel, and when the'grippers approach their parallel lruns and arrive in what has been referred to above as a meshing position, vthey will firmly grip the stalks in .the manner above described.

While vthe stalks are thus held gripped in this manner they are cut off at a point substantially at the surface ofthe ground. This operation is performed Yby a rotary cutter 32, preferably consisting of a circular saw.

The cutter is secured on the lower end Aof a vertical depending'shaft 83 which is mounted insuch amanner that the cutter vcan be raised or loweredor moved to and fro parallel to the ground at the will of the operator or attendant.

ln order to give Athis shaft the desired range of movement, itis supported and driven by a# novel mechanism. This mechanism con'iprises a ball Sli mounted in ball bearings which enable the ball to have a very wide range of .angular movement. The shaft 83 is splined to ythis vball but can slide freely therethrough, `the downward movenient of the sh-aft being` limited by a collar adjustably secured on the shaft ly a set screw. he detailed construction of this mechanism is best shown in Figs. 5 to- 10, from which it will be seen that the ball yis mounted between upper and lower sets of bearing balls .36 and 3T vruiming in suitable races formed in brackets or bearing members 38 'and Si) bolted on the forward ends of two ,pipes d() which are rigidly secured to the frame of the machine. It will be evident from an inspection of Figs. 9 and 10 that the plates 38 and 39 can be adjusted toward and from each other by properly manipulating the nuts on the bolts that secure these plates in their operative positions. rThe central part ot the ball 34 is machined to form a pulley face and a belt 41 running over this face and over a pulley 42, Fig. l, drives the ball 34, and through it, the shatt 33 and cutter 32. rFhis pulley 42 is mounted fast on a shat't 43 carrying a second pulley 44 which is belted to another pulley 45 tasten a vertical shaft 46. This shattcarries loose and tast pulleys 4T and 48, respectively, to receive a belt 49 running over horizontal idlers 50 on to a pulley 5l on the main driving` shait 30. A beltshifter (not shown) is ised to throw the belt from one ot the pulleys 47 and 48 to the other, as desired, to stop or start the operation of the cutter.

1n order to control the position oi the cutter 32 and to enable the attendant to move this cutter as desired, a sleeve 52, Fig. l, is loosely mounted on the shatt 83 between two collars secured on said shaft for adjustment into any convenient height, and this sleeve is straddled by a yoke 53, the ends ot which are pivoted to the sleeve. This yoke is mounted tast on the forward end ot a long rod 54 to the other end of which is fixed a hand-wheel 55. At an intermediate point this rod 54 is supported in a gimbal joint, preferably of the construction shown in Figs. ll andv 12. This joint comprises a sleeve 56 in which the rod 54 slides freely, the sleeve being pivotally supported in the conical ends ot two set screws 57 which are threaded through a split ring 58 that also is pivotally supported in the ends oia two bars 5f.) secured to the machine trame. This construction obviously enables the rod 54 to be swung about two axes at right angles to each other or to be moved longitudinally through the joint. ln order to substantially counter-balance the weight ot the shaft 33 andV cutter 32, a small flexible cable 60 secured to the yoke 53 runs over suitable pulleys in one ot the pipes 4()A and is secured at its opposite end to a weight (il movable up and down in a pipe 62 supported by the frame of the machine.

It will now be evident that when the machine is in operation the cutter 32 is under the control ot the operator or attendant at all times. A seat may be located immediately hack of the handwheel 55 in which the machine operator can sit with his hands on the handwheel. where he has a clear View of the cutter. By moving the handwheel in the propel' direction he can raise or lower the cutter as may be necessary to ave-id inequalities in the surface of the ground and to cut the cane as close to the ground as possible; and he can also move the cutter to and fro in va plane substantially parallel with the surface of the ground to cause it to sever all the stalks in the hill or row for a width ot several feet. `When the machine is stopped the operator raises the cutter and places the rod 54 in a hook 65, Fig. l, depending from a part oi' they machine iframe. Inasmuch as the weight of the cutter 32 and shait 33 are substantially counterbalanced, and since the shaft is supported on a joint moving universally in ball bearings, the adjusting movements of the cutter can be made very easily without any undue strain or effort on the part of the operator.

As the canes are gripped by the grippers A and B and cut oit at the Ground by the cutter 32, they are carried bac uvarclly, with reference to the machine, and upwardly, the grippers holding the stalks in a slightly inclined position as above described. 1t will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 3 that the parallel run between the chains lO and ll is inclined laterally with reference to the direction of motion ot the machine. Consequently, as the grippers carrythe stalks ..ipwardly, they hold them in a position inclined backwardly and laterally and when they reach the upper part of their parallel runs, where they release the stalks, the stalks will 'tall under the influence of gravity with their tops toward the Aupper part ot the machine as it appears in Fig. 3. When the stalks are released they fall against the inclined wall 66, Fig. l, ot a hopper, having another wall 67 which lies in front of the wall 66. These walls direct the stalks into the bottom of the hopper. In this position the stalks rest on a portion of a long conveyor v68 guided at its opposite ends on suitable sprockets 6,9 and 70. 1n order to drive this conveyor the shaft 7l carrying the sprockets 70 is geared to another shaft 72, which, in turn, is geared to a sha-itt 73 es:n tending transversely ot the machine and carryinga pulley 74 that is driven by a quarter turn belt 75 troni a pulley 7G itast on the shaft 4G. I

1t will be seen that the conveyor elements are horizontal and that each element is provided with a series oct short pins 77. The tops of these pins just clear the bottoni of the rear wall 66 ot' `the hopper, as shown in Fig. l, and consequently the stalks lying in the bottom of the hopper drop into the spaces between the pins 77 and are carried by these pins under the lower edge of the wall 6G, the conveyor' moving in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig'l. A seres ot plates or small doors 96, Fig. 2, are hinged to the lower edge of the hopper wall 66, and each plate carries a curved spring 97 which bears against a portion ot the wall above the hinge, so that these hinged plates can yield to allow an abnormally thick stalk to pass under the edge of the hopper, and at the same time they will tend to prevent more ythan one .stalk passing under said edge at a. time. rlhe stalks picked up in this manner are brought first under a seres of .spiral members 8() driven by gear connections with a shaft Sl. A gear connection 89., Fig. 5, connects the shaft S1 with the shaft 7,3 driven in the manner above described. The spiral members have teeth which act on 'the stalks carricd by the conveyor G8 to move these stalks endwise toward the right, looking at the machine from the front. This movement pushes the tops of the stalks against a stop plate 83, Figs. 8 and 13, which plate is mounted for adjustmenttoward and from the conveyor GS in order to facilitate the cutting of the tops at the desired point. rlhese tops lrest on ashort section Slt of the conveyor' which is driven by the saine meenanism as the conveyor G8 and which is supported by sprockets mounted on the shafts which also support the sprockets of the conveyor GS. Consequently, this section of the conveyor moves in unison wlth the main .section GS and as the stalks are 4carried upwardly they are brought against a. cutter 85, preferably consisting of a. circular saw mounted fast on the shaft 7f3, which cuts oft the tops of the stalks at a height depending on the adjustment ofV .the plate 83. rThe tops so cut off are carried upwardly by the conveyor against an inclined plate 86 which sweeps themen1 theconveyor and over an apron ST on to the ground.

Alin order to enable the stop .plate 83 to be adjustedtoward and from the end of the conveyor sectioni, it may be made vin an L section, as shown in Fig. i3, and a suitable number ofV screws 89 each having a handle 90 fast thereon may be mounted to rotate in the stop plate 83 but held againstv longitudinal movement with reference Athereto and threaded through a part 0l. of theY frame of the machine. Consequently, by turning the handles 90, Fig. A13

' in the desired direction the plate 83 may be moved toward or from the conveyor GS. This adjustment` wll determine the length ot' the .sections cut from the tops ot` the stalks.

rlhe action of the toothed members 8() on the stalks will remove some ofthe leaves, and in order to complete this operation the stalks are next carried under a series of strippers 88 which are rotated in the oppo-V wardly toward the rear of the machine byk the conveyor GS and when the stalks arrive at the discharging end of this conveyor substantially all the leaves .have been removed. The stalks .drop ofir the end of the conveyor into a trailer (not shown) which is drawn hy the machine, or they may be accumulated in a mechanism designed to dump them at intervals. ln order to facilitate. the making ot repalrs' to the conveyor, or the members S0 and 88, and tor the. purpose also ot' facilitatmg the clearing away of any undue accumulation of leaves that may collect, the members 80 and 88 and their eperatfng mechanism are-mounted in a frame 93, Fig. et, which is supported at one edge by suitable hinges or hangers 9i, the construction ot' which best shown in F ig. (i.y The (ip-- posite edge of the frame rests on suitable stops and the pivots of the hangers 94 are so located that when the frame is swung upwardly the pinion of the gear connection 82 simply swings out of mesh with the gear that drives it.

The operation of the machine has been described so completely in connection with the foregoing description of construction, that any further statement as to operation is beleved to be unnecessary.

llfhile I have herein shown and described the best embodiment of the. invention of which I am at presentaware, it is obvious that this embodiment may vbe moditied in many particulars without`v departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.

1Vhat is claimed as new is:

l. A cane harvesting machine having. iu combination, means for cutting growing cane close to the ground, means for carrying the cut stalks of lane in a siiibstautially upright position. a yconveyor to which the stalks are delivered by said carrying means and on which the cane rests by gravity, and means for operating on the cane while Vit is on said conveyor.

2. A cane harvesting machine having, in combination, a conveyor having substantially Ahorizontal travelling elements, means for operating on the cane carried by said conveyor, means for cutting the cane close to the grounchand additional means for carrying the cut stalks of cane in an inclined position toward said conveyor and delivering'them to said conveyor.

b. A cane harvesting machine having, in combination, means for cutting growing cane at a point close to the ground, a conveyor, and mechanism for delivering the cut stalks of caneto said conveyor with the tops of the stalks all extending in a predetermined direction, said mechanism comprising means vfor carrying the cane in an inclined position and releasing itl while in said position thereby causing it to fall by gravity in a predetermined direction on to the conveyor.

4i. A cane harvesting machine having, in combination, means for cutting growing cane at a point close tothe ground, a conveyor, a hopper frein 'the bottom ot' which the conveyor takesthe stalks ot cane, and mecha- L 'i e nis'nior delivering the cut stalks of cane to said hopper comprising means for carrying the cane to a point'above said hopper and releasing it while the cane is in an inclined position causing it to t'all in a predetermined direction into said hopper. v

Li.A A cane harvesting machine having, in combination, means for cutting growing cane at a point close to the ground, a conveyor, 'and a second conveyor operative to carry the 'cut stalks of cane toward the iirst conveyor in an inclined position causing it to tall in a predetermined direction on to the lirst ronveyor.

i3. A cane harvesting machine having, in combination, means for cutting growing cane at a point close to the ground, a conveyor, and a second conveyor operative to carry the cut stalks of cane toward the first conveyor in a position inclined backwardly and laterally, whereby the cane is caused to fall by gravity in a predetermined ldirection on to the first conveyor.

'.7. cane harvesting machine having, in combination, means for cutting'pgrowing cane at a point close to the ground, a conveyor, and a second conveyor operative to carry the cnt stalks of cane toward the first conveyor in aposition inclined backwardly and laterally, whereby the cane is caused to fall by gravity in a predetermined direction on to the first conveyor, and means for guiding the t'alling cane after its release by sai-d second conveyor into the desired position on the first conveyor.

8. A cane harvesting machine having, in combination, a conveyor having substantially horizontal travelling elements, means for stripping the leaves from the stalks of cane carried by said conveyor, means for cutting oit the tops of the stalks on said conveyor, and means for cutting the growing cane and delivering it to said conveyor.

9. A cane harvesting machine having, in combination, a conveyor for supporting the stalks of cane, means for cutting growing cane and delivering it to said conveyor, means for operating on the caneon said con.- veyor to move the stalks ,fot cane endwise, a stop against which the cane is so moved, and a cutter for cutting off the tops of the cane while they are in K contact, with said stop.

i0. A. can@ iliarvestns,machine harina in combination, a conveyor for supporting the .stalks of cane, means for cutting growing cane and delivering it to said conveyor, means for operating on the cane on said conveyor to move the stalks of cane endwise, a stop plate against which the tops of the stalks are forced by said endwise movement, and a power driven cutter against which the stalks are carried by said conveyor while the top of the stalks are held in contact with said plate.

1 1. A cane harvesting machine having, in combination, a divided conveyor, means for cutting growing cane and delivering it to said conveyor, a power driven cutter mounted between the sections of said conveyor, a stop positioned at one side of said conveyor, and means for acting on the cane on said conveyor to move it endwise to force the tops of the stalks against sai-d stop before the conveyor carries saidA stalks into contact with said cutter, whereby the cutter rwill operate to cut off a substantially predetermined length from the top of each stalk.

'12. A cane harvesting machine having, in combination, a conveyor in a substantially horizontal position for supporting the stalks of cane, means for cutting growing cane and delivering it to said conveyor, and means to which the cane is carried by the conveyor operative to strip the leaves from the cane while it is on said conveyor.

13. A cane harvesting machine having, in combination, a conveyor, means :tor cutting growing cane and delivering it to said conveyor, power driven means operative to move the cane on said conveyor endwise, a stop against which the tops of the stalks of cane are moved by said means, and a rotary cutter for cutting off the tops of the stalks while they are in contact with saidstopa 14. A cane harvesting machine having, in combination, a conveyor, means for cutting growing cane and delivering it to said conveyor, power driven means operative to move the cane on said conveyor endwise, a stop against which the tops of the stalks of cane are moved by said means, and a rotary cutter for cutting ofi the tops of the stalks while they are in contact with said stop, and additional driven means operative to strip the leaves from the stalks on said conveyor after the tops have been severed.

15. A cane harvesting machine, having means for gripping stalks of growing cane at a considerable distance above the ground, and a cutter arranged to cut said stalks at a point close to the ground after they have been so gripped and while they are still held gripped.

16. A cane harvesting machine, having means for gripping` stalks of growing cane at a considerable distance above the ground, a cutter for cuttingthestalks so gripped at 'point-'close to' theggroand, and means. @a

' driven cutter :tor severing'the cane substantially at thesurface ot the ground, andgsupporting. and operating; means for said critter enablingv the attendant. to. raise and lower the cutter at will and tov move it toa-nd. fro substantially parallel to the ground while the machine is in operation.

19. ln. a cane harvesting mach-ine, a rotary cutter for. severing the cane. substantially at thev surface of thev ground, a` depending shalt supporting saidcutter, means for driving saidy sha'tt, and.. supporting and cont-rolling means for. said. shaft enabling an attendant;l to raise or. lower the cutter at will and to move the cutter toand-` i'roin a. plane substantially parallel to the ground while the. machine isV in. operation.

20. In a cane harvesting, machine, a ro` tary cutter 'for severing. the cane below the point at which. itv is. gripped, aflopend-ing shaft supporting said: cutter, arba-ll joint supporting said shaft, and, means having a ldriving connection. with said shaft at said joint to rotate theshaft..

2l. In a cane, harvesting machine, a rotary. cutter for severing the cane substantially at the, surface otf the grou-nd., a.` depending shaft supporting-said cutter,. arball joint supporting sai'df shaft-- anda belt, operating` on 'said jointto drive, said shaft. j

22. In. a cane harvesting machine, a. ro. tary cutter for severing thecane substantial.- ly at thev surface ottheground., adepend'- ing shaft, sup porting 'said cutter, a balljoint supporting said shaft: and through which said shaft. is slidable, and, abelt operating directly on said ball jointy to. dri-ve said shaft.

23. In. a. cane. harvesting machine,y a rotary cutter tor severing theY cane, substantiall)Y at the surface of the. ground, a` de.- pending shaft supporting saidcutter, az-ball joint. sujiporting said shaft: and. through which, saith sliaittr is slidable., means having a drh-'ing connection with.. said. joint;l to rotate the. shaft, and acounter.. weight.. connected with said. shaft and substantiallyr balancing the weight of said shaft and cutter..

2l. In,v a. cane.: harvesting nnrchine,l a. rotary cutter for.. Seyer-ing the. cane. substantially' at. the.; surface o :"5 the'. groi'md, a. de.- pendiiizshaftsupp tin .said.,cntter.1neans cluding, a universal joint enabling the cutter to be moved to and tro parallel to the ground, a controlling rod connected with said shaft", and a swivel joint supporting said rod, whereby the attendant is enabled toadjustsaid cutter at will during the operation of the machine.

25. In a cane harvesting machine, two endless chains having. adjacent parallell runs, and` cane grippers carried by said chains and spaced' apart to canse the grinpers on the two chainsto. mesh with each ot 1er while they travel along said parallel runs, each of said. grippershaving a toothed edge onone side-and al pair of toothed edgesy on its oppositeside, whereby the single edge of each gripper of. one. set cooperates with the pair of edges of the nextadjacent gripper ofthe opposite. settogra-spa stalk otcane with a three. pointconta-ct. while the grippers travel along. said. paralleliruns. j

26. In a cane harvesting machine, two endless chains. having adjacent parallel runs,- and cane grippers. carried by said. chains and spaced apart. to cause the grippers on the opposite chains to mesh with each other and. to. grasp stalks of cane between them while they travel along said parallel runs, saidgrippers. being constructed tohold said stalks in an. inclined position.

52.7.v In a` cane harvesting machine,.two endless. chains. having adjacent parallel runs, and; cane grippe-rs` carried by.` said chains and spaced apartto cause. the gri'ppers on the two chains to mesh with each other .while they travel along said. parallel runs, each of said grippers having zrl toothed edge on one side, and a pair of.. toothed edges. on itsopJ posite side, whereby the single edge ot each gripperof one setv co-operates with the pair of! edges of the next adjacent gripper` of the opposite set to grasp. a stalk of cane while the grippers travelV along-(said parallelruns, thesingle edgein engagement with` one side of a lstalk lying between the4 levels ofthe edges engaging the opposite side of said stalk.

28. Ina oanejharvest-ing. machine, two endlessr chains having adjacent parallel' runs. and cane grippers carried' by said chains; and spaced.A apart to cause the grippers on the two chainsto mesh with each other while they travel. along said4 parallelruns, eachz of saidl grippers.- having a. toothed edge on one side `and a pair, of-tootheded-ges on its op positeside, the? two edges of said pair lying one. above the other and the upper edgey projecting beyond. theV4 lower edge, whereby the single. edge of each'. gripper on one set cooperates w-ith. the-,pair of edges` ot the nent adj ,acont4 gripper of. the; opposite set to grasp astalk of cane-when.the-:grippers-:nein their meshing position.. and to.. holdl said stalk-.in an inelinedipes-ition;

eareharvatinas andere- @We CFL endless chains having adjacent parallel runs, and cane grippers carried by said chains and spaced apart to canse the grippers on the opposite chains to mesh With each other and to grasp stalks of cane between them While they travel along said parallel runs, said grippers vbeing constructed to hold said stalks in an inclined position and said parallel portions of the runs of said edges lying diagonally with reference to the direction of motion of the machine whereby Vsaid stalks will he held in a position inclined haclwardly and laterally While they are heing carried hy said grippers.

30. In a cane harvesting machine, the coin-l hination of two endless chains having adjacent parallel runs7 cane grippers carried hy said chains and spaced apart to canse the grippers on the opposite chains to mesh With each other and to grasp stalks of cane hetween them While they travel along said parallel runs, means for supporting said chains With said parallel runs inclined upwardly and haclwardly, and cane cutting means mounted below the forward ends ci' said parallel runs. v

ln testimony whereof I have signed my `name to this specification.

JOHN A; PAINE.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,572,410, granted February 9, 1926, upon the application of John A. Paine, of Richmond, Virginia, Jfor an improvement in Cane Harvesters, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: la-ge 5, lines 91 and 92, elaiin 12, strike out the Words in a substantially horizontal position and insert the same to follow ater the Word cane and before the comma in line 93, saine olaiin; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this oorreotion therein that the saine may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Oiioe.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of March, A. D. 1926.

[smh] M. J. MOORE,

Acting Commissioner olf Patents. 

